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Effective at Noon Tomorrow

Music and Lyric by David W. Jacobsen
Copyright 2020. All Rights Reserved.

Effective at noon tomorrow
I'll be gone, I'll be gone
Effective at noon tomorrow
You won't have me to kick around anymore

I'd prefer to hold on to the finish
You know I've never been a quitter
But you need me full time, full time
Full time, so I go, forever bitter

Effective at noon tomorrow
My dreams go up in smoke
Effective at noon tomorrow
I walk away, I walk away

All my life, I've fought the Harvards and the Yales
Pulled myself up through my sweat
To hear the commies, liberals, fools
Hurl abuse, that tricky epithet

So I go, though I unlocked doors
Will my wins find my name absolution?
While my enemies will rejoice
What they see as retribution

Effective at noon tomorrow
Effective at noon tomorrow

So it's written, my name forever scorned
That's what you're taught
Well am I so much worse, a tyrant's grave
Or was it just that I was caught

Behind every face, was another man to beat
Everywhere I looked was more fights
Well I lose now but you'd best
Beware my acolytes

Effective at noon tomorrow
I walk away, I walk away
Effective at noon tomorrow
My dreams go up in smoke
Effective at noon tomorrow
I'll be gone, I'll be gone
Effective at noon tomorrow
You won't have me to kick around anymore

Notes:

Richard Nixon August 8, 1974

"
I would have preferred to carry through to the finish whatever the personal agony it would have involved, and my family unanimously urged me to do so. But the interest of the Nation must always come before any personal considerations.

From the discussions I have had with Congressional and other leaders, I have concluded that because of the Watergate matter I might not have the support of the Congress that I would consider necessary to back the very difficult decisions and carry out the duties of this office in the way the interests of the Nation would require.

I have never been a quitter. To leave office before my term is completed is abhorrent to every instinct in my body. But as President, I must put the interest of America first. America needs a full-time President and a full-time Congress, particularly at this time with problems we face at home and abroad.

To continue to fight through the months ahead for my personal vindication would almost totally absorb the time and attention of both the President and the Congress in a period when our entire focus should be on the great issues of peace abroad and prosperity without inflation at home.

Therefore, I shall resign the Presidency effective at noon tomorrow. Vice President Ford will be sworn in as President at that hour in this office.
"

From the album Potus
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